U.S. patent number 7,137,655 [Application Number 10/823,137] was granted by the patent office on 2006-11-21 for door security brace.
Invention is credited to Craig D. Quarberg.
United States Patent |
7,137,655 |
Quarberg |
November 21, 2006 |
Door security brace
Abstract
A security brace for impeding forced entry into a room through
an entry door. The brace comprises a plurality of elongated pole
members with foot members secured at a first end of the pole
member, and a block member operatively coupled to a second end of
the pole members. The block member has a top planar surface with a
yoke projecting upward from the top planar surface. The yoke is
adapted to receive the shaft of a door knob lock set. When an
uninvited intruder applies force to open the entry door, the force
vector is directed down the pole members and holds the foot members
against the floor, thus impeding the door from swinging open.
Inventors: |
Quarberg; Craig D. (Monticello,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
35059836 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/823,137 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050225099 A1 |
Oct 13, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
292/339; 248/351;
292/DIG.15; 292/338; 16/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05C
19/004 (20130101); Y10S 292/15 (20130101); Y10T
292/65 (20150401); Y10T 292/67 (20150401); Y10T
16/61 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
E05C
17/54 (20060101); A47F 5/00 (20060101); E05F
5/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;292/339,DIG.15,338
;16/82,83,DIG.20 ;70/14,94 ;D8/339 ;52/127.1,127.2
;248/351,354.1,354.5,357 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Glessner; Brian E.
Assistant Examiner: Lugo; Carlos
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nikolai & Mersereau, P.A.
Nikolai; Thomas J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An entry door security brace for impeding forced entry into a
room through a door, said door having a lockset with a pair of
knobs on opposite side surfaces of the doors, the knobs being
operatively coupled to a shaft, said brace comprising: a) a
plurality of pole members wherein said pole members include an
upper end, and a lower end with a foot member secured to the lower
ends of each of said plurality of pole members; b) a single block
member said block member being a solid piece of material in the
form of a generally flat-sided parallelepiped having a top planar
surface with a yoke extending upward from the top planar surface
and a bottom surface having a plurality of circular apertures cut
into said bottom surface whereby the pole members are secured to
the block members when the upper ends of the pole members pass
through the circular aperture and are held in place by a locking
member, said yoke receiving said shaft therein; and c) a
cylindrical stem extending upwardly from the top surface of said
block member, said cylindrical stem fitting into an opening in the
bottom of the yoke.
2. The security brace in claim 1 wherein the plurality of pole
members each comprise first and second tubular telescoping segments
and means for locking said segments relative to one another at a
predetermined composite length.
3. The security brace as in claim 1 wherein said foot member
includes a non-skid floor engaging surface.
4. The security brace as in claim 3 wherein said non-skid surface
is an elastomeric pad.
5. The security brace as in claim 3 wherein said non-skid surface
includes a plurality of dominantly projecting corrugations.
6. The security brace as in claim 1 wherein the locking member
includes a ball detent disposal proximate the upper end of each
pole member and a front surface aperture is cut into a front
surface of the block member, wherein when the ball detent passes
through the front surface aperture, the pole member is locked into
the block member.
7. An entry door security brace for impeding forced entry into a
room through a door, said door having a lockset with a pair of
knobs on opposite side surfaces of the doors, the knobs being
operatively coupled to a shaft, said brace comprising: a) a
plurality of pole members wherein said pole members include an
upper end, and lower end with a foot member secured to the lower
end of said pole members; b) a single block member secured to the
upper ends of said plurality of pole members, wherein said block
member is a solid piece of material in the form of a generally
flat-sided parallelepiped having a top planar surface with a yoke
member extending upward from the top planar surface, said yoke
member adapted to receive said shaft, wherein said yoke member
includes a yoke base and a head member, the head member sloping at
a predetermined angle to a longitudinal axis of the yoke base and a
bottom surface having a plurality of circular apertures cut into
the block member wherein the pole members are inserted into the
circular slots and held in the block member by a locking member;
and c) a cylindrical stem extending upwardly from the top surface
of the base member for fitting into an opening in a bottom of the
yoke.
8. The security brace as in claim 7 wherein the plurality of pole
members each comprise first and second tubular telescoping segments
and means for locking said segments relative to one another at a
predetermined composite length.
9. The security brace as in claim 7 wherein said foot member
includes a non-skid floor engaging surface.
10. The security brace as in claim 9 wherein said non-skid surface
is an elastomeric pad.
11. The security brace as in claim 9 wherein said non-skid surface
includes a plurality of dominantly projecting corrugations.
12. The security brace as in claim 1 wherein the circular apertures
are non-intersecting circular apertures.
13. The security brace as in claim 7 wherein the circular apertures
are non-intersecting circular apertures.
14. The security brace as in claim 7 wherein the locking member
includes a ball detent disposed proximate the upper end of each
pole member and a front surface aperture is cut into a front
surface of the block member, wherein when the ball detent passes
through the front surface aperture, the pole member is locked into
the block member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to building security devices, and
more particularly to a portable bar arrangement designed to prevent
a door from being forced open.
II. Discussion of the Prior Art
Security in one's home is a paramount value in today's society. As
reflected in films such as "Panic Room", Americans desire to know
that they are going to be safe from a violent or criminal invasion
of their home. In particular, individuals wish to know that a
burglar will not be able to kick in a building's entry door.
Most people rely on conventional locksets to keep invaders out of
their home. These locksets typically have a key-operated bolt which
is too short relative to its depth of penetration into an adjacent
door jam to resist the force of an adult kicking in the door or
lunging at the door with his shoulder. With little force, a burglar
can crack and shatter a wooden door jams.
In addition to conventional locksets homeowners may deploy a
variety of other devices including slide bolts, chains, and other
devices which can be overcome using a pry bar or a bolt cutter.
Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,232 entitled "Entry Door Security
Bar" represented a step forward in overcoming the deficiencies of
previous locking mechanisms. The device claimed by the '232 patent
comprised a single pole having a footpad at its lower end and a
specially designed head member at the upper end of the pole. The
head member had a semi-circular grove for receiving a door knob.
When the head member received the door knob, and the foot member
intersected with the floor, the force vector resulting from someone
pushing against the entry door was directed downward which
prevented the door from opening. However, as intruders have become
stronger, the stress on the bar has become greater. Intruders using
a battering ram or other such tools maybe able to overcome the
resistance provided by the '232 brace.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a novel and substantial improvement over
Applicant's '232 patent. The present invention comprises plurality
of pole members for supporting a block member that is adapted to
engage a door knob. The plurality of pole members preferably
includes at least three such pole members, with a central pole
member and two side pole members that are set at a predetermined
angle to the vertical. Each pole member has an upper end and a
lower end. Each pole member further includes a foot member secured
to the lower end. Each foot member includes a non-skid floor
engaging surface. The non-skid surface may be an elastomeric pad,
that includes a plurality of laterally extending corrugations. The
pole members each comprise first and second, tubular, telescoping
segments, and a means for locking said segments relative to one
another at a predetermined composite length. The telescoping
segments allow the brace to be collapsed for easy storage and
transportation. The collapsible pole members also allow the brace
to be adjusted to adapt to door knobs of various heights from a
floor surface.
The block member has a top planar surface with an upwardly
extending yoke. The base of the yoke extends perpendicularly from a
midpoint of the top planar surface. A head member of the yoke
slopes upward at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of
the yoke base. The head member has a generally semicircular recess
which is adapted to receive the door knob. The block member further
includes a bottom surface with a plurality of circular apertures
dimensioned to receive the ends of respective pole members therein.
When the pole members are at predetermined angles to the floor, and
the yoke is engaged with the door knob, the force vector resulting
from someone pushing against the door is dispersed and directed
downward along the pole members. This dispersal better prevents the
footpad from sliding along the floor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing objects, advantages, and features of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in their from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment, especially when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
like numerals in the several views refer to the corresponding
parts.
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the security brace comprising
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the block member of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom elevation view of the block member of FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a partial view of the footpad of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a view showing the manner in which the security brace of
FIG. 1 is used to prevent forced entry through a room door.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is indicated generally by numeral
10 an entry door security brace for barring entry into a room
through its door. The security brace 10 comprises a plurality of
pole members 12a, 12b, 12c and a block member 14. Pole members 12a,
12b, 12c are each identical in composition. Each pole member has an
upper end 16 and a lower end 18. The pole members may be solid, but
preferably comprise an upper tubular segment 20 and lower tubular
segment 22 of generally equal length where the internal diameter of
the upper segment 20 and the external diameter of the lower segment
22 are such that the upper segment 20 can telescopically fit within
the interior of the lower segment 22. In this way, the device can
be collapsed into a more compact length for easy of transportation
in a suitcase or the like. When in use, the unit will extend until
a bottom detent 26 disposed on a lower portion of the upper segment
20 passes through the aligned aperture 24. This will prevent the
pole member from collapsing under a heavy load.
Affixed to the lower end 18 of each pole member 12a, 12b, 12c, is a
footpad 28. The footpad 28 comprises an upwardly extending circular
socket 30 and a molded plastic base 32 with corrugations 34. The
footpad 28 is affixed to the lower end 18 by inserting the lower
end 18 into the socket 30. The corrugations 34 engage the floor or
carpet fibers to prevent the footpad 28 from slipping or marring a
floor surface. The footpad 28 is preferably made of an elastomeric
material. The socket 30 is angled with respect to the molded
plastic base 32 as such the pole member can be positioned at an
angle to the floor while the molded plastic base 32 rests flat on
the floor.
The block member 14 has a top planar surface 36, a bottom surface
38, a front and rear surface 40, 42, and a pair of side surfaces
44. An upwardly extending yoke 46 extends at the midpoint of the
top planar surface 36. The yoke comprises a rounded tubular yoke
base 48 and a head member 50. The yoke base 48 is perpendicular to
the top planar surface 36 and fits over a cylindrical stem 49
projecting upward from the surface 36. The head member 50 slopes at
a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the yoke base 48.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the head member 50 has a semi circular
recess 52 formed through the head member 50.
The bottom surface 38 of the block member 14 includes a plurality
of non-intersecting circular apertures 54a, 54b, 54c. An end
portion 16 of pole member 12a is inserted into circular aperture
54a. Likewise, pole member 12b is inserted into circular aperture
54b and pole member 12c is inserted into circular aperture 54c. The
front surface 40 of the block member 14 has a plurality of front
surface apertures 58. Each pole member further includes an upper
ball detent 56 disposed proximate its upper end 20. The upper ball
detent 56 passes through the front surface aperture 58.
The yoke 46 is preferably covered with a non-abrasive material,
such as an elastomeric pad to prevent scratching of when put in
place and removed.
Referring next to FIG. 5, the manner in which the security brace 10
of the present invention is used will be explained. In FIG. 5,
there is shown a portion of an entry door 60 in which a lockset is
installed. The lockset is indicated generally by numeral 62. The
lockset 62 includes a pair of knobs on opposite side surfaces of
the door 60. The knobs are operatively coupled to a shaft (not
shown) which cooperates with the bolt 70. By turning the knob, the
bolt 70 can be retracted free of a socket formed in the adjacent
door jam. The floor of the building is identified by the numeral
72.
The security brace 10 is installed by first extending the
telescoping segments 20 and 22 of each of the pole members 12a,
12b, and 12c, and locking them together by the bottom detent 26,
all as previously described. The block member 14 is operatively
coupled to the upper ends 16 of the pole members 12a, 12b, and 12c
by the top ball detent 56 as previously described. The semicircular
recess 52 formed in the head member 50 is sized to capture the
shaft of the lockset 62 to which a door know is secured. When the
semicircular recess 52 captures the shaft, the head member 50 rests
flat against the side surface 74 of the entry door 60.
When force is applied to the entry door 60 in the direction shown
by arrow 76, the vector of force is directed down the pole members
12a, 12b, and 12c, to hold footpads 28 against the floor 72. The
downward force vector prevents movement of the brace 10 on the
floor 72. This prevents the entry door from swinging open.
This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in
order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those
skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel
principles and to construct and used such specialized components as
are required. However, it is understood that the invention can be
carried out by specifically different equipment and devices, and
that various modifications, both as to the equipment details and
operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from
the scope of the invention itself.
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